Section 7: Taking Action
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TAKING ACTION
Local leagues may take action based upon positions developed at the local, state or national level. However, prior notification and approval by LWVCT or LWVUS is required if the targets of the action are not local municipal officials, i.e., if the targets are state or national officials. (“Local” officials mean municipal officials such as the First Selectman. Board of Education, Planning and Zoning Commission, Finance Board, etc.)
The Forward of LWVCT's Impact on Issues states: Local Leagues are encouraged to use the LWVCT positions at their own level to influence public policy. It is the responsibility of the local League board to determine whether member understanding and agreement exist and whether the action on the local level makes sense in terms of timing, need and effectiveness. If a local League wants to take action on the state level, it must first inform the LWVCT Public Issues Vice President to ensure that all levels of the League speak with one voice.
Warning 1: NONPARTISANSHIP IN ACTION
“The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.” ‑ Article II, Section 2, LWVUS Bylaws.
The League’s record of nonpartisanship toward candidates and political parties is critical to the effectiveness of our unique Voters Service and citizen information work. It also provides a strong foundation for the work we do in support of issues. Our action on legislation is the more effective when the public, legislators, the media and others have reason to believe that our conclusions are based on merit, not politics.
Key Considerations For Taking Action:
Warning 2: TAKING ACTION ON ISSUES DURING ELECTION SEASON
The LWVCT defines election season as July 1 to Election Day. To maintain their nonpartisan nature during election season, leagues need to exercise caution when communicating with current office holders and candidates for office. When in doubt, consult the Vice President/Public Issues.
These guidelines will be followed:
1. During election season, discussions and communications about League positions should be with all candidates for an office, and should be sensitively constructed to remove any semblance of partisanship. 2. Communication or discussion with current office holders about issues on which the elected official is expected to take action during the current term of office can take place without involving other candidates to that office. 3. If a local League desires to take action on state positions, it should evaluate the degree to which the issue is viewed as partisan in their communities.
Warning 3: LOCAL ACTION ON STATE ISSUES
Local leagues are able to act on the basis of LWVCT or LWVUS positions as well as their local positions. Action may be taken on any position, not just those selected by the state board for priority action, and may be at the initiative of the local League.
In order to make sure that the League of Women Voters speaks with one voice in Connecticut, the following procedures must be observed:
Techniques: THE ART OF ADVOCACY (The material in this section is also available as a separate pamphlet from LWVCT’s Hamden office.)
LOBBYING IS NOT A DIRTY WORD! Everyone lobbies—you do it every day with your family, friends and neighbors.
LOBBYING IS: • Being an advocate for an issue, letting people know that you feel strongly about a particular issue. • Attempting to convince people of the validity of your viewpoint. • Finding the right people to implement your position, such as local, state, or national government officials and legislators. • Understanding human nature and having a sense of humor and an enthusiasm for your issue.
TIPS FOR LOBBYING TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION
1. KNOW YOUR ISSUE Be prepared by knowing the facts. Do your homework and learn the necessary background information. Know the legislator’s or government official’s stand on your issue. Where does their constituency stand? What other special interest groups will be contacting them (party leadership, colleagues, other organizations, lobbyists)?
2. BE HONEST Be honest and accurate. You expect the same from your legislator or government official. You are building a foundation for a good relationship, so integrity should be the corner-stone. Do not let your emotional involvement in the issue cloud your facts.
3. PLAN FOR CONTACT Make an appointment. A face-to-face meeting is preferable. This is a meeting of equals: concerned citizens and government officials. Legislators need to hear from their constituents. You may want to take 2 or 3 allies (no more) with you.
4. BE BUSINESSLIKE You set the tone of the meeting. Be friendly and have your “opener” planned. Be brief: limit issues and be focused in your goal for this meeting. Ask good questions that have been prepared in advance. Avoid taking notes during the meeting; write them immediately afterward. Know the pertinent information, such as bill number, title and description. If you have a fact sheet, keep it short and to the point. Be courteous and maintain confidentiality.
5. IDENTIFY THE OPPOSITION Find out who opposes your stand. If the legislator or official opposes your position, find out why but DO NOT ARGUE! Be sympathetic to their particular situation. Try to avoid a completely negative response.
Leave an opportunity for you to return another time. Make an attempt to get the official to make a commitment without pushing them into a corner — you do not want to lose a good working relationship.
6. LISTEN CAREFULLY You can glean much information from what your legislator or official tells you about your issue. Who are the people working for or against your position? What are their concerns?
7. BE POSITIVE Do not speak in negative terms. If you do not have an answer to a question, say so, and offer to find the answer. If you promise to follow up, keep that promise. Thank the legislator/official for meeting with you. Thank them for their support once you have gained it.
8. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED Do not give up! Be persistent: some issues take longer to accomplish than others. Get to know your legislator’s or official’s staff. Join forces with other like-minded people. You may want to start a community campaign.
9. MAINTAIN A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP This may not be the only time you will want to contact this person, so keep the door open and remain on friendly terms. You may not gain their support this time but might seek it on another issue in the future.
WRITE A NOTE OF THANKS
CONTACTS FROM HOME: If you cannot possibly arrange a face-to-face meeting, do not give up!
IF YOU CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR Be prepared Have the pertinent information written down: essential points of your position, bill number, title and description. Try to place call at crucial time for issue, e.g., before a key vote. Use correct form of address, e.g., Senator Smith, not Joe. Present your position briefly Identify yourself and where you live. One issue per call. Be factual and honest. Use your own words. Mention how issue will affect their district or community. Ask for their views Try to ascertain their position and how they will vote. Keep tone friendly. End the conversation politely Thank the official. Offer to send information on your issue. Note: If you cannot reach your legislator or official, do not refuse to speak with a staff person. You may gain useful information and a helpful source for future reference.
IF YOU WRITE YOUR LEGISLATOR Use plain or personal stationery. Use proper form of address. Write legibly. Keep it short and to the point. Let them know what you expect. Address one issue per letter. Outline essential information: bill number, title and description. Use your own words. Avoid form letters. Describe personal experiences and local impact. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number.
REMEMBER:
BE PERSISTENT Don’t give up! When your cause is worthy it is worth the extra effort and the wait.
BE POSITIVE Don’t contact your legislator or government official just to complain or push an issue. Let them know you support them when they have done a good job. Be polite: say “thank you.”
BE A PART OF THE PROCESS If you aren’t, who will be? Techniques: JOINING THE LWVCT PUBLIC ISSUES TEAM
Legislators are most responsive to their “hometown” constituents. For that reason, the LWVCT has established a “Lobby Corps” that works with the state League’s Public Issues team specialists. You can be involved as much as you wish. The PI Team specialists provide the expertise, the background information, and e-mailed Action Alerts on your topic of interest. You provide a “voice” from your community — a phone call, a letter to a legislator, or just a “heads-up” to others who might be interested.
Most Lobby Corps activity takes place during the last two months of any legislative session, and in any session certain areas will receive more attention than others (and some may not come up at all). The work load is therefore somewhat uneven. But if you’re interested in having a direct say as a League member on a particular issue or issues, the Lobby Corps may be just what you want.
Lobby Corps groups as of June 2007 are: Air Quality Budget Death Penalty Education Funding Election Laws Energy Ethics Gun Control Health Care (includes Mental Health Care) Housing Land Use Open Government Reproductive Choice School Start Time Social Policy Spending Cap Transportation Waste Management (includes the bottle bill) Water You can join as few or as many as you want. Because of the fast pace of Lobby Corps activity, you must have a working e-mail address to be a member. To sign up or to get more information, e-mail the LWVCT’s Hamden office at lwvct@lwvct.org. Techniques: PUBLIC HEARINGS: PREPARING AND PRESENTING EFFECTIVE STATEMENTS
FORMAT FOR A WRITTEN OR ORAL STATEMENT
Identify yourself and the local League that you represent.
Summarize briefly the special interest of your League in the subject of the hearing.
Tell briefly how you arrived at your conclusions to show that they were carefully developed.
State any recommendations first and add explanations as necessary. What is the public interest? Who will benefit? Who will be hurt? Most important, keep to the subject of the hearing.
Keep your summary, if you have one, to a short paragraph to reemphasize your main points.
Appreciation: public hearings are specific examples of the democratic process in action. It is a privilege to be a part of it. Say so, briefly.
PRESENTING AN ORAL STATEMENT
Be on Time.
Be Patient. Hearings seldom run on schedule; be prepared to wait.
Be Accessible. When it comes close to the time you may be called on, take a seat in the front of the hearing room, have your materials ready. This saves time for everyone.
Be Prepared. If time is running short, the hearing examiner may set a time limit or request that statements be summarized. Prepare a concise summary ahead of time or underline key portions of your statement to be delivered orally. The whole statement will go into the record if you request it for study by the officials concerned.
Be Confident. The hearing officials are presiding for the specific purpose of taking testimony from you and other witnesses to learn your viewpoints. They will usually be friendly and helpful. Questions may be asked to clarify points you have made. Respond directly to the question; if you do not know the answer, say so. Promise to obtain the needed information and state that you will submit it in writing.
Be Cooperative. Follow any suggestions and requests of the hearing officer cheerfully. Do not use the hearing as a forum to air old grievances. Stick to the subject, and try to add something new rather than repeating what others have already said. Give everyone a chance to speak once, before asking to be heard a second time. Do not complain because earlier witnesses may have had more time than you; if a time limit is set, abide by it. Techniques: ACTING IN COALITIONS
The decision to join a coalition will be guided by In League, page 38: “Political power doesn’t depend on numbers alone, but combining forces is often an effective approach. Clout comes through leadership, information, political expertise and good organization. In a coalition, league impact can be doubled or tripled. Don’t be afraid of action coalitions. Consider them temporary or for the duration of a campaign. If league goals diverge from those of the coalition, the league or the other group can pull out. Working with other organizations exemplifies cooperation not bondage -- keep your eye on the major overall goal.”
Before you join: 1. Verify that the goals of the coalition are in accordance with league position. 2. Know the leadership and have an understanding of how decisions will be made. 3. Clarify how the league will respond if an action adopted by the coalition does not seem appropriate to league position.
All statements and official letters carry the name of the President and, if desired, the appropriate Directors. All statements and letters should be checked with the President, who will receive inquires concerning them.
The president should OK all publications, including the newsletter.
Verify all plans for meetings in writing and keep copies. Techniques and Requirements LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS AND REPORTING
The LWVCT encourages local leagues to host Legislative Meetings to provide a forum for an informal exchange of views with legislators on a variety of issues and to: · establish/maintain good relationship with those who represent you; · become familiar with legislators’ own priorities for the upcoming session; · acquaint legislators with the league’s advocacy agenda; · educate new and old members on upcoming legislative issues and the LWVCT advocacy activity.
The LWVCT wants to encourage you to invite your representatives for a meeting in which discussion may include topics of local interest in addition to state-wide issues.
A FEW HELPFUL HINTS . . .
Each event should have a discussion leader who is familiar with your league’s and the LWVCT’s advocacy agenda. Please refer to Connecticut Impact on Issues (pdf) and the League’s online Action Center (www.lwvct.org/action.htm) for background material.
Briefly acquaint legislators with the LWVCT legislative priorities and previous activity on the issue.
You may choose to invite the press, but please let the legislators know if press will be present. The press is there only to observe and not to ask questions during the program.
The Connecticut Ethics Commission regards these meetings as lobbying activity and requires accurate reporting as to the cost and attendance. The reporting sheet is attached. Please remember to include the cost of the legislators’ meals in your total budget.
AFTER THE MEETING
Fill out the report form which will be included in the packet. Keep one copy for your files and send the completed report to the LWVCT office as soon as possible.
Report of the discussions could be printed in your newsletter. If you plan an article in the local press, please let your legislators know in advance.
Do not forget to thank the legislators for attending!
2007-2008 Legislative Meeting Reporting Form
The League of Women Voters of CT, Inc., including its affiliate local Leagues, is registered with the State of Connecticut Ethics Commission as a lobbying organization. Legislative Meetings are lobbying events that must be reported to the Commission.
Please submit the following information to the LWVCT office immediately after your legislative meeting so that the LWVCT can file our report with the State Ethics Commission at the beginning of the following month.
League of Women Voters of ________________________________________________
Planning: Date and place of legislative meeting: ________________________________________
Number of people expected to attended the event: ______________________________
Attendance: Number of people who attended, including legislators: ___________________________ Names of all legislators who attended (use reverse if you prefer): _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________
Cost: Amount charged to attend (if applicable): $____________________________________
Cost of event (including food, facilities, and service): $___________________________ Please attach any receipts you can provide. If food was donated, estimate its total “fair market" value. If at a restaurant, give the cost of the food charged per person or the cost of the individual meal(s) provided to the guest legislator(s). Please attach receipt(s) for legislators' meals.
LOCAL LEAGUE CONTACT PERSON FOR 2007-2008 LEGISLATIVE MEETING:
Name: ___________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________________
Kindly mail, e-mail or fax this form to the State Office immediately following your meeting. 1890 Dixwell Ave, #113, Hamden, CT 06514-3183. lwvct@lwvct.org fax: 203-288-7998
August 2007 |
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